Open fireplace grate



Jan. 9, 1934. G. P. DAvls 1,943,209

` OPEN FIREPLACE GRATE Filed sept. 27, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 lNvENToR l(1e/wai@ @au15 WITNESSES Jan. 9, 1934. Q P, DAWS 1,943,209

OPEN FIREPLACE GRATE Filed Sept. 27, 1932 ZSheetS-Sheet 2 l; BY M #gd765W? ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICEApplication September 27, 1932 f- Serial No.635,106

l Claims.

This invention relates generally to grates, and refers more particularlyto a grate for open fireplaces.

The invention has for some of its objects to provide a grate which is soconstructed and arranged that it may be optionally employed to burn woodor coal; that it effects a more thorough and complete combustion of thefuel; that it may be banked so as to insure the continuous burning ofthe fuel overnight or for even a longer period of time; that it may beadjusted to regulate the size of the fuel bed desired; and that itfacilitates the agitation of the lower part of the fuel bed to removethe ashes and consumed fuel or clinkers or other non-combustible mattercontained in the fuel.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of constructionof the grate, the econ- @my with which it may be produced, the ease 20with which it may be set up or knocked down to permit the nesting orpacking of the parts for storage and transportation in a minimum ofspace and the general eciency derived therefrom.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which there isexhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claimsdefine the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a grate constructed in accordance withthe invention and arranged particularly to burn logs.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view therethrough taken approximately on aplane indicated by the line 2 2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the rear grate wall removed.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the front grate wall removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view illustrating the grateequipped with partition elements for the purpose of burning coal.

Figure 6 is a sectional view therethrough taken approximately on a planeindicated by the line 6 6 in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the grate includesa front substantially fiat grate wall, designated generally by thereference character A, and a rear grate wall B, which is of angularcross sectional configuration. The structure further includes a pair ofsupporting members designated generally by the reference character C.rEhe front grate wall A is formed with a plurality of transverse slots10, preferably arranged in a plurality of rows so as to define betweenthe slots the grate bars 11. The rear grate wall B includes an uppervertically disposed portion 12, which is preferably solid and providedwith a rear medially disposed longitudinally extending strengthening rib13 and with a notched upper edge 14. The rear wall further includes anangularly and forwardly inclined lower portion 15 which is formed with aplurality of slots 16 defining therebetween the grate bars 17.

The supporting members C are each fashioned to provide a body 18 havingfront and rear legs 19 and 20 and front and rear arms 21 and 22, theformer arm 21 extending upwardly and forwardly at an angle and thelatter having a lower portion 23 which extends upwardly and rearwardlyat an angle and an upper portion 24 which extends vertically andcorresponds approximately to the shaping of the rear grate wall B. Theforward arm 21 of each member C is provided on its upper face withprojecting lugs 25, while the angularly disposed lower portion of therear arm 22 is formed on its Lupper surface with a projecting lug 26.

In practice, the walls A and B and supporting members C of the grate areassembled by seating the rear wall B on the rear arms 22 of thesupporting members C with the lugs 26 extending into the slots 16. Thefront wall A is then seated with its lower edge abutting orsuperimposedupon the lower portion 15 of the rear wall and with its lower surfaceresting in flat contact with the front arms 21 of the supportingmembers, the lugs 25 engaging in the slots 10 of the front grate wall.When thus assembled, the parts of the grate will be sustained in place,and in burning logs the same are laid lengthwise in thc grate. In orderto facilitate agitation of the lower portion of the fire to dislodgeashes or consumed fuel, an agitator may be employed in the form of anelongated rod 27 which approximates the length of the grate and which isseated in the re-entrant angle defined by the lower portions of thefront and rear grate walls. The rod is provided at its opposite endswith enlarged heads 28 and 29 which bear against theV end edges of thegrate walls, and the head 29 may be formed with a radial upwardlyprojecting manipulating crank 30 having an outturned terminal 31 formedwith an aperture 32 for the reception of a poker or other suitableimplement for swinging the crank arm. The agitator rod 27 throughout itslength is provided with a plurality of rows of radially disposedagitator studs 33, by virtue of which agitation of the fuel bed iseffected and certain of said studs are designed to engage with the slots16 in the lower portion of the rear grate wall and the slots 10 in thefront grate wall.

Where it is desired to use the grate structure for burning coal,partition elements 35 are employed and the agitator 27 is dispensedwith. The partition elements 35 are shaped generally to conform to theCross sectional shape of the grate structure and are provided withprojecting lugs 36 to engage in the front and rear grate wall slots andwith an upper rear lug 37 to engage in the notched upper edge 14 of therear grate wall. Obviously, the partition elements 35 may be associatedwith the grate structure in variously spaced relation, to dene a fuelbed of the desired width in accordance with the size of the firedesired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a grate has been designed whichpresents a restricted lower end, through the slots or between the gratebars of which a poker may be inserted to dislodge the ashes, consumedfuel, clinkers or other noncombustible matter contained in the fuel.Furthermore, due to the configuration and inclined disposition of thegrate bar walls, gravitational feeding of the fuel is effected. Due tothe gravitational feeding of the fuel, it is apparent that even a logiire may be banked with green logs so as to insure a continuous burningof the fuel overnight or for even a longer period of time if desired.Furthermore, due to the construction of the grate, it is apparent thatthe parts or elements thereof may be readily disassembled andconveniently nested or packed to occupy a minimum amount of space forstorage or transportation.

What is claimed is:

1. An open fireplace grate comprising a rear wall having an imperforatevertical portion, a forwardly and downwardly inclined lower slottedportion, a slotted front wall inclining upwardly and forwardly and apair of spaced supporting members having arms fashioned to fit the frontand rear grate walls and having lugs engaging in the slotted portionsthereof to maintain the grate in assembled relation.

2. An open fireplace grate comprising a rear wall having an imperforatevertical portion, a forwardly and downwardly inclined lower slottedportion, a slotted front wall inclining upwardly and forwardly and apair of spaced supporting members having arms fashioned to fit the frontand rear grate walls and having lugs engaging in the slotted portionsthereof to maintain the grate in assembled relation and elementsdefining side walls detachably associated with the front and rear wallsand disposed in relatively spaced relation to define together therewitha fire bed open at the top.

3. An open replace grate comprising a portable knock-down structureincluding a pair of spaced base members adapted to be supported on thefloor, and having diverging front and rear supporting members, a pair ofslotted grate members mounted on the base supports with the edge of onegrate member supported on the other, lugs on the base members positionedin the slots of the grate members whereby all of said parts are coupledtogether, a rotary agitator mounted on the grate members at theirjuncture, and enlarged ends on said agitator positioned at the ends ofthe grate members and acting to hold the agitator against longitudinalmovement relative to the grate.

4. An open fireplace grate comprising a portable knock-down structureincluding a pair of spaced base members adapted to be supported on thefloor, and having diverging front and rear supporting members, a pair ofslotted grate members mounted on the base supports with the edge of onegrate member supported on the other, lugs on the base members positionedin the slots of the grate members whereby all of said parts are coupledtogether, partition plates extending transversely of the grate membersand having lugs pro- `iecting into portions of the grate members, a

rotary agitator mounted on the grate members at their juncture, andenlarged ends on said agitator positioned at the ends of the gratemembers and acting to hold the agitator against longitudinal movementrelative to the grate.

GERVASE PEVERIL DAVIS.

